High School Observation Form

Observer (Cadet): Jack Tanklefsky Date: 10/11/18

Site: Broomfield High School Teacher’s Name(s) Davidson

Approximate Age (Or Age Range) of Students: 14-15

What impressions do you have of the overall environment?

The student definitely become largely social in this classroom, although this is an advanced
class, the students are able to form their own opinions and speak amongst themselves (even
when the teacher is trying to instruct). They are all facing the front of the room and do often
pay attention to the teacher when he was instructing. They are given individual work time with
instruction to help guide thought, then they run with the assignment either by themselves or
with friends if they choose. Because this is an advanced 9th grade english, one would
imagine that they would be given more classroom freedom.

What are the students learning?

The students are learning of the short story, “Harrison Bergeron” and how it acts as a political
satirization. They draw connections to the “handicapper general” and how everyone changed
to be equal and how that resembles a communist society where everyone is equal and those
who are not are, in this case, modified to be equal to each other, an obvious tie to the
communist ideal. They are also moving away from The Old Man and the Sea and toward
1984, which also satirizes the communist ideal. They are tying in the Governmental ideas and
how they relate to modern and classical literature.

What stage(s) of physical development do you observe? Give evidence.

I observe the adolescent development because they are going through puberty, if not finished
with puberty. They are mingling with others of the same and other genders, and in some
cases, they have ongoing relationships.

What stage(s) of cognitive development do you observe? Give evidence.

They are in the formal operational stage where they are able to produce their own ideas and
find a lot of deeper meaning in literature and are able to find intricate meaning in vocabulary
words. It is obvious that-- especially because this is an advanced class-- that they not only
fully understand the larger concepts, but enjoy the process of doing so.

What student-to-student interactions do you observe?

Students have formed friend groups that they operate and assist each other. These friendly
bonds may, however, prove to be a distraction, as they may focus on their personal
conversations over the instruction of the facilitator. Students ask each other what they wrote in
an effort to guide their own personal thoughts and writing.
What teacher-to-student interactions do you observe?
The teacher in this classroom, gives instructions, then walks around the room reading what
the kids are writing and answering questions if they arise. The students look to the teacher
with a sense of authority, and what the teacher says is usually what the students abide by. For
example, the classroom has a “phone hotel” where the students put their devices so that they
do not become a classroom distraction. All of the students put their devices in the hotel.

What technology is being utilized, if any?

The students have physical copies of text and books that they write in and use as a medium
to record thoughts. They buy their own books or are offered the school copies (in which they
are asked not to write unless utilizing a “sticky note”).

What are the strengths and/or challenges of this classroom?

The students are very strong in what they are able to analyze. They can develop strong,
profound ideas that they are able to contrive when given text to read. However, the students
often find themselves off task because they are able to talk freely with their peers and work
with them often.